The challenge.
Our client, a global packaging manufacturer, required a Manufacturing Director to support the company’s exponential growth within their European operation. The company are key players within the metal packaging sector. This was a newly created position reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. The successful candidate would oversee two manufacturing plants (in the UK and France) and would be responsible for leading a team of Plant Managers, whilst also acting as the director for the ends and closures business unit.
Based on previous success in this field, we were tasked to lead the search for the candidate. The key challenge was finding a candidate to suit the company’s exact brief; a manufacturing leader with the expertise, leadership skills, and broader knowledge of the manufacturing sector, which is a highly specialised field. This meant that our packaging division were searching within a highly concentrated talent pool, requiring expert utilisation of their networks within the sector and geographical market.
The solution.
Given the niche nature of the search requirements, Chad Harrison International (CHI) proposed a retained search model. It was determined that the successful candidate must possess some mandatory soft skills to be successful in the role which could only be assessed through a 1-1 screening process. However, the client wanted to take a more open approach (than first thought) on industry backgrounds. This allowed them to see a breadth of profiles and we therefore presented candidates from across the manufacturing sector. Approaching a search in this way often results in longer timescales but provides more agility for the client, allowing them to revise their brief based on the availability of relevant, sought-after candidates within their market.
The result.
After a thorough search comprising several months of identifying and screening a diverse range of candidates, an outstanding individual was identified, qualified, and proposed to the client. They successfully completed the company’s interview process and accepted the role upon offer. Their experience fit all the relevant skill sets our client required as well as being an excellent cultural fit with the business. What’s more, the hired candidate was a passive job seeker, vindicating CHI’s retained search approach.
The search was a huge success which was made possible through various screenings on CHI’s side and close interactions with the client on market information and insights.